Vernon Coleman

Vernon Edward Coleman (born 1946) is an English conspiracy theorist and writer, who writes on topics related to human health, politics and animal welfare. He is most notable for his AIDS denialism, anti-vaccine activism and COVID-19 disinformation. He was formerly a general practitioner (GP) and newspaper columnist. Coleman's medical claims have been widely discredited and described as pseudoscientific conspiracy theories.

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Action items

• Read the article's evidence and "investigation" or "reception" sections, and open its cited sources.
• Before sharing anything on this topic, run it through the fact-checkers above.
• Check claims with the WHO, CDC, NHS or your national health agency.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist before changing treatment.
• Look for systematic reviews (e.g. Cochrane), not single studies.
• Look for peer-reviewed consensus, not one dissenting expert.
• Check science explainers from NASA, national academies or university departments.
• If someone you know believes it, ask what evidence would change their mind, and share one good source, not ten.

Prevention steps

1. StopNotice a strong emotion (anger, fear, 'they don't want you to know') before you share. Pause first.
2. Investigate the sourceWho is making the claim, what's their expertise, and what do they gain if you believe it?
3. Find better coverageRead laterally: open new tabs and see what independent outlets and fact-checkers say.
4. Trace claims to the originFind the original study, video or document. Check dates and whether quotes are cut.
5. Ask what would change your mindReal theories can be tested. If every piece of counter-evidence 'proves' the cover-up, it can't be.
6. Count the peopleBig secret plots need thousands of people to stay silent for years. That rarely happens.
7. Talk, don't mockWith friends or family, ask questions, listen, share your own sources calmly. Shame backfires.
8. PrebunkLearn the common tricks (cherry-picking, fake experts, false dilemmas) so you spot them early.

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